FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Shaunda Miles, Director of Public Relations, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-1578, Miles@TrustArts.orgDiana Roth, Communications Manager, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-8717, Roth@TrustArts.org
Shaunda Miles, Director of Public Relations, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-1578, Miles@TrustArts.orgDiana Roth, Communications Manager, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-8717, Roth@TrustArts.org
Images available: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Press RoomSearch name: HFNP 2016 SING-OFF Winner
PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST ANNOUNCES
GROUP WINNER!
GROUP WINNER!
OF THE SIXTH ANNUAL
WILLIAMS SING-OFF COMPETITION
WILLIAMS SING-OFF COMPETITION
PART OF HIGHMARK FIRST NIGHT PITTSBURGH 2016
Pittsburgh, PA―Ready, Set, Sing! The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the winner of the sixth annual Williams SING-OFF Competition for talented student singers! The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Sing-Off is part of the upcoming Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2016, and is aimed at providing a unique and creative opportunity for young people in the greater Pittsburgh region. For the first time ever, a group has won! This year’s Williams SING-OFF Competition winners are Addison Albert and Colin Aikins. Addison is an 11th grade student at Knoch High School. Colin is a 10th grade student at Central Catholic High School. They will open for the River City Brass Band on New Year’s Eve, performing at the Benedum Center from 6:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
About Williams SING-OFF CompetitionSimilar to the format of popular TV talent shows, students from grades 6 through 12 who are affiliated with a middle or high school in Southwestern Pennsylvania, were eligible to submit a video audition performance of two songs. An internal panel reviewed all submissions and five finalists were selected. Legendary singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson returned to select the winning voice from the top five finalists of this year’s Williams SING-OFF Competition. While Smokey Robinson selected the winner, he is not scheduled to attend Highmark First Night Pittsburgh. The Williams company is the name-in-title sponsor of this year’s SING-OFF Competition.
About Williams SING-OFF CompetitionSimilar to the format of popular TV talent shows, students from grades 6 through 12 who are affiliated with a middle or high school in Southwestern Pennsylvania, were eligible to submit a video audition performance of two songs. An internal panel reviewed all submissions and five finalists were selected. Legendary singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson returned to select the winning voice from the top five finalists of this year’s Williams SING-OFF Competition. While Smokey Robinson selected the winner, he is not scheduled to attend Highmark First Night Pittsburgh. The Williams company is the name-in-title sponsor of this year’s SING-OFF Competition.
Once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America’s “greatest living poet,” Smokey Robinson’s career spans over 4 decades of hits. He has received numerous awards including the Grammy Living Legend Award, NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, Honorary Doctorate (Howard University), Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts Award from the President of the United States. He has also been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.
The winner of the Williams SING-OFF Competition also receives a $500 cash prize and $1,000 cash donation to their school music department.
The winner of the Williams SING-OFF Competition also receives a $500 cash prize and $1,000 cash donation to their school music department.
About Williams SING-OFF Competition WinnersAddison Albert has won The Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Awards for two years in a row. Honorees are represent Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties in outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre. These awards recognize individual artistry and honor the dedication and professionalism of students and educators and their schools’ commitment to performing arts education.
Colin Aikins has been singing for two years. Colin taught himself in Italian and asked his parents if he could take singing lessons. Colin has been taking lessons with Maria Spacagna, Chair of the Vocal Music Department at Carnegie Mellon University, for a year. He recently won the Schmidt Youth Vocal Competition at the National Opera Center in NYC and was accepted for a program at the Metropolitan Opera in February.
To listen to Addison Albert and Colin Aikins performing “The Prayer,” at the 3:06 mark through 3:50 mark, visit https://youtu.be/JIy6L8JFJPw.
All of the vocal finalists from this year’s Williams SING-OFF Competition have been invited to participate in the FedEx Ground Parade that takes place during Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2016. Finalists confirmed to participate in the parade, as of this press release date, are Tori Cubero an 8th grade student at Armstrong Junior High School and Mariah Fowlkes a 10th grade student at Perry Traditional High School.
Last year’s SING-OFF Competition winner was Gabby Barrett, a freshman (at the time of the competition) at Serra Catholic High School. She is performing as part of Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2016 on the Dollar Bank Stage this year. You can find information about Gabby Barrett here: http://gabbybarrett.com.
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is Pittsburgh’s arts-focused New Year’s Eve celebration. Culminating with the city’s Countdown to Midnight and raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball, the six-hour celebration sprawls downtown’s renowned 14-block Cultural District—inside theaters, galleries, and unique spaces and along city streets on outdoor performance stages. Acclaimed national artists and Pittsburgh’s vibrant artist community ring in the new year for revelers with live music, dance, theater, visual arts, comedy, magic, kids’ activities and a signature parade along with two Zambelli Fireworks displays at 6:00 p.m. and midnight. Admission Button prices remain among the most-affordable in the nation: $8 in advance, $10 at the door, and kids 5 and under attend for free.
Highmark First Night Pittsburgh, a production of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, is Pittsburgh’s arts-focused New Year’s Eve celebration. Culminating with the city’s Countdown to Midnight and raising of the Future of Pittsburgh Ball, the six-hour celebration sprawls downtown’s renowned 14-block Cultural District—inside theaters, galleries, and unique spaces and along city streets on outdoor performance stages. Acclaimed national artists and Pittsburgh’s vibrant artist community ring in the new year for revelers with live music, dance, theater, visual arts, comedy, magic, kids’ activities and a signature parade along with two Zambelli Fireworks displays at 6:00 p.m. and midnight. Admission Button prices remain among the most-affordable in the nation: $8 in advance, $10 at the door, and kids 5 and under attend for free.
The Wailers, headline music act for Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2016, epitomize this year’s theme, Around the World—Around the ‘Burgh, by bringing to Pittsburgh – the site of Bob Marley’s final performance 35 years ago – a legacy and sound celebrated internationally for more than fifty years. Around the World—Around the ‘Burgh will shape the complete line-up attractions on New Year’s Eve as visitors discover international arts and cultural influences alongside the diverse work of Pittsburgh’s regional artists. For more information, visit: www.TrustArts.org/FirstNight.
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. www.TrustArts.org
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. www.TrustArts.org
No comments:
Post a Comment